Metallic picket fence



June 25, 1963 c. BOXBERGER 3,095,184

METALLIC PICKET FENCE Filed June 14, 1961 0 I8 26 52 z I n I nu INVENTOR. g 25 CARL c. BOXBERGER ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,095,184 Patented June 25, 1963 3,095,184 METALLIC PICKET FENCE Carl C. Boxberger, 3828 Bruneal, Fort Wayne, Ind. Filed June 14, 1961, Ser. No. 117,064 7 Claims. (Cl. 256-22) The present invention relates to a fence and more particularly to a fence construction which may be fabricated almost entirely of sheet metal.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fence fabricated almost entirely of sheet metal parts fitted in such a manner as to require no nails, screws or other separate fasteners for attaching the parts together.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fence which is sturdy and durable in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, simple to construct, and economical to manufacture.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a fence fabricated of extruded metal stringers and sheet metal slats having unique means for fastening the slats to the stringers in a facile, economical and reliable manner. As a corollary to this object. it is another object to provide a fence construction which may be easily assembled and erected by even the most unskilled workman, the finished fence being uniform and attractive in appearance.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional illustration taken substantially along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 but with the slats removed;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective illustration of the same embodiment showing one series of slats being attached to a stringer; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional illustration taken substantially along section line 5-5 of FIG. 3 illustrating the attachment of the stringers to a fence post.

Referring to the drawings, two stringers and 12 of identical construction, preferably formed of extruded metal such as aluminum, are mounted to extend in horizontal directions and are vertically spaced apart and parallel. Since a description of one will suflice for both, only the stringer 10 need be described in detail.

The stringer is generally of stepped channel shape, a first channel portion comprising a web 14 and two legs 16 and 18. Extending from the ends of the legs 16 and 18 are two ledges 20 and 22, respectively, these ledges preferably being coplanar and extending laterally outwardly in a horizontal plane as shown. On the outer ends of the two ledges 20 and 22 are provided two depending flanges 24 and 26, respectively, having upwardly bent legs 25 and 27, respectively, providing U-shaped sides, which aid in reinforcing the stringer against bending. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, a first series of elongated slots 28 is provided in the ledge 22. As shown, these slots extend in a longitudinal direction and are also longitudinally spaced apart. A second series of slots 30 identical to the slots 28 are provided in the ledge 20 as shown, these slots 30 being longitudinally staggered with respect to the slots 28. In other words, the slots 28 and 30 are longitudinally alternated from one end of the stringer to the other.

A first series of slats 32 preferably formed of heavy gauge sheet metal are attached to one side of the stringers 10 and 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Another series of slats 34 are attached to the other side. These slats are identically formed so that a description of one will suffice for all.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, these slats are elongated and fiat with the opposite ends thereof being transversely bent into hoop-shaped portions 36 and 38, respectively, for the slats 32 and hook-shaped portions 40 and 42 for the slats 34.

The stringers 10 and 12 are mounted with respect to each other such that the slots 28 thereof are in vertical alignment with each other as are the slots 30. The slats 32 are secured to both stringers 10 and 12 by inserting the hook-shaped ends 36 and 38 into the respective slots 28 to extend between the legs 26 and 27 of the U-shaped side as shown. The slats 34 are secured to the opposite sides of the stringers by inserting the hook-shaped ends 40 and 42 into the aligned slots 30 to extend between the legs 24 and 25 as shown. By this means, the slats 32 and 34 are securely attached to the stringers and are staggered with respect to each other according to the staggered arrangement of the slots 28 and 30. In other words, the slats 32 are mounted in spaced apart relation on one side of the stringers 10 and 12 while the other slats 34 are mounted on the other side in staggered relation. By aligning the slots in the two stringers 10 and 12 vertically with respect to each other, the slats 32 and 34 are positioned in truly vertical alignment.

The stringers 10 and 12 are mounted on upright posts, one such post being indicated by the numeral 44. This post is preferably square or rectangular in cross-section and may be fabricated of either metal or wood. One end of each of the stringers has the web 14 severed from the leg portions 16 and 18 as shown in FIG. 4 and bent downwardly therebetween to provide a mounting flange 46.

-This mounting flange 46 is preferably provided with an elongated hole 48.

In attaching the stringers 10 and 12 to the post 44, the flange 46 is abutted against one side of the post 44 with the leg portions 16 and 18 partially straddling the same as shown in FIG. 5. Screws 50 or the like passed through the elongated aperture 48 secure the mounting flange 48 as well as the respective stringer to the post 44.

In continuing a length of fence, additional stringers 52 and 54 constituting extensions of stringers 10 and 12 respectively are fabricated precisely to the same shape as the stringers '10 and 12 and are fastened to the post 44 in the same manner. Slats are attached to these stringers 52 and 54 in precisely the same manner as in the case of the stringers 10 and 12. Thus, sections of the fence as just described may be repeated so as to obtain a finished fence of the desired length.

In the final assembly of the fence, it is desirable to first attach the upper stringer 10, 52 to the post 44 in such a manner that the two stringers 10, 52 abut to make the two individual stringers 10 and 52 appear as a single stringer. Following this, the respective slats 3-2, 34 are inserted in the respective slots 28 and 30 in the upper stringers. The lower stringers 12, 54 are next fitted over the hook-shaped ends 38, 42 and then drawn downwardly to cause tight engagement of the slat ends in the respective slots 28, 30. As a final step in the erection of a fence, the bottom stringers 12, 54 are securely fastened to the post 44 by means of the respective mounting flanges 46.

The resulting fence construction is a uniform, continuous pattern which is neat and attractive in appearance and quite sturdy and durable in construction. The construction requires actually only two principal parts, namely the extruded stringer 10 and the slats 32. Thus, in manufacturing the fence, a maximum of only two parts is required. This leads to economy and efliciency in production as well as ease and simplicity in the erection of the fence by even the most unskilled workman. The fence requires no nails, screws or other separate fasteners for attaching the slats to the stringers; yet, these parts are in tirnately and securely fastened together when the aforedescribed erection procedure is followed.

The U-shaped sides 24, 25 and 26, 27 preferably have a clearance fit with the received ends of the respective hooks 40 and 36. By this means, the slats 32 and 34 are snugly held in position and resist bending movement caused by transverse forces exerted midway between the ends thereof.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fence comprising two horizontally extending parallel and vertically spaced stringers, each stringer in cross-section being generally of stepped channel shape in which two channel sections are joined together, the first channel having a horizontal web and two upright legs, the second channel having two ledge portions connected to the distal ends of said legs, said ledge portions extending horizontally laterally outwardly from said legs, two reinforcing flanges extending from the outer ends respectively of said ledge portions and at angles thereto, each said stringer having a plurality of longitudinally extending and spaced slots in the ledge portions thereof, the slots in one ledge portion being longitudinally staggered with respect to the slots of the other ledge portion, said two stringers being in reversed relation with respect to each other with the webs thereof being outermost, a plurality of elongated flat upright metallic slats, said slats having the opposite ends thereof transversely bent into hookshaped portions, each slat having the hook-shaped portion on one end thereof received by a respective slot in one stringer and the hook-shaped portion on the other end thereof received by a respective slot in the other stringer whereby the slat extends between and is attached to said stringers, all of said slats being so attached to said stringers on opposite sides thereof in staggered relation.

2. The fence of claim 1 wherein said stringers have opposite ends, a mounting flange extending transversely between said Web and legs at a location adjacent to but spaced inwardly from one end of each stringer, said flange being attached to the stringer.

3. The fence of claim 1 wherein said stringers have opposite ends, a mounting flange extending transversely between said web and legs at a location adjacent to but spaced inwardly from one end of each stringer, said flange being attached to the stringer, and an upright post having one side abutted against and secured to the mounting flanges of both stringers, said post also being straddled by the aforesaid legs adjacent to said one stringer leg.

4. A fence comprising two horizontally extending parallel and vertically spaced stringers, each stringer in cross-section being generally of stepped channel shape in which two channel sections are joined together, the first channel having a horizontal web and two upright legs, the second channel having two ledge portions connected to the distal ends of said legs, said ledge portions extending horizontally laterally outwardly from said legs, two reinforcing flanges extending from the outer ends respectively of said ledge portions and at angles thereto, each said stringer having a plurality of longitudinally extend ing and spaced slots in the ledge portions thereof, the slots in one ledge portion being longitudinally staggered with respect to the slots of the other ledge portion, said two stringers being in reversed relation with respect to each other with the webs thereof being outermost, one series of slats being attached to one side of said stringers and another series identical to said one series being attached to the other side thereof, each slat having one end received by a slot in the upper stringer and its opposite end received by a respective slot in the lower stringer, said slots being vertically aligned whereby said slats are mounted in an upright positions.

5. A fence comprising two horizontally extending parallel and vertically spaced stringers, each stringer being channel shaped in cross-section and having a web and two leg portions, a first series of longitudinally extending and longitudinally spaced slots in said web near one lateral edge thereof, a second series of longitudinally extending and longitudinally spaced slots in said web near the other lateral edge thereof, the slots of said first and second series being longitudinally staggered, a plurality of elongated flat upright identically shaped metallic slats, said slats having the opposite ends thereof transversely bent into hook-shaped portions, each slat having the hookshaped portion on one end thereof received by a respective slot in one stringer and the hook-shaped portion on the other end thereof received by a respective slot in the other stringer whereby the slat extends between and is attached to said stringers, all of said slats being so attached to said stringers on opposite sides thereof in staggered relation.

6. A fence comprising two horizontally extending parallel and vertically spaced stringers, each stringer being channel shaped in cross-section and having a web and two leg portions, a first series of longitudinally extending and longitudinally spaced slots in said web near one lateral edge thereof, a second series of longitudinally extending and longitudinally spaced slots in said web near the other lateral edge thereof, the slots of said first and second series being longitudinally staggered, one series of slats being attached to one side of said stringers and another series being attached to the other side thereof, each slat having one end received by a slot in the upper stringer and its opposite end received by a respective slot in the lower stringer, said slots being vertically aligned whereby said slats are mounted in an upright position.

7. The fence of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing flanges are bent inwardly toward each other and upwardly, respectively, into U-shaped sides, said U-shaped sides receiving the ends of the hook-shaped portions respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A FENCE COMPRISING TWO HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING PARALLEL AND VERTICALLY SPACED STRINGERS, EACH STRINGER IN CROSS-SECTION BEING GENERALLY OF STEPPED CHANNEL SHAPE IN WHICH TWO CHANNEL SECTIONS ARE JOINED TOGETHER, THE FIRST CHANNEL HAVING A HORIZONTAL WEB AND TWO UPRIGHT LEGS, THE SECOND CHANNEL HAVING TWO LEDGE PORTIONS CONNECTED TO THE DISTAL ENDS OF SAID LEGS, SAID LEDGE PORTIONS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID LEGS, TWO REINFORCING FLANGES EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER ENDS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID LEDGE PORTIONS AND AT ANGLES THERETO, EACH SAID STRINGER HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND SPACED SLOTS IN THE LEDGE PORTIONS THEREOF, THE SLOTS IN ONE LEDGE PORTION BEING LONGITUDINALLY STAGGERED WITH RESPECT TO THE SLOTS OF THE OTHER LEDGE PORTION, SAID TWO STRINGERS BEING IN REVERSED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH 